Vegan Pancake Batter: A Recipe For Candlemas
Just because you're vegetarian or even vegan doesn't mean you have to miss out on celebrating Candlemas! As February 2nd approaches, we invite you to discover a recipe for vegan crepe batter made with very simple ingredients.
Ingredients
Here are the necessary ingredients to make about 6 vegan crepes, without eggs, cow's milk, or butter:
175 g of wheat flour.
25 g of cornstarch or potato starch.
1 pinch of salt.
1 pinch of turmeric powder.
1 tablespoon of sunflower oil.
250 ml of plant-based milk.
Approximately 150 ml of water.
Note: For this cow's milk-free crepe batter recipe, you can use any plant-based milk of your choice, such as unsweetened oat, soy, or almond milk for savory crepes. If you plan to make only sweet crepes, you can use a sweetened plant-based milk flavored with vanilla, for example.
Weighing of dry ingredients
This vegan crepe batter recipe is very easy and doesn't require any special ingredients like guar gum for instance.
1- In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour with the starch, sifting these ingredients if necessary.
2- Add the pinch of salt and the pinch of turmeric powder.
Note: Turmeric, which is a natural dye, helps to compensate for the absence of egg yolk and gives the vegan crepes a golden color closer to the original recipe.
3- At this stage of the recipe, you can add to the batter the spices and flavors of your choice, for example:
• Vanilla sugar, ground cinnamon, or grated lemon zest for sweet crepes.
• Grated nutmeg, cumin, or curry powder for savory crepes.
Vegan Crepe Batter Preparation
Once you have weighed all the dry ingredients, get a whisk ready to prepare the vegan crepe batter.
1- Make a well and pour the spoonful of sunflower oil in the center.
2- Gradually add the plant-based milk, whisking continuously to avoid lumps.
3- Thin the batter with 10 cl of cold water until it reaches a smooth consistency.
4- Let the batter rest for at least 2 hours before cooking the crepes.
Note: after resting, the crepe batter will likely have thickened. You will then need to add about 5 cl of water to bring it back to a sufficiently fluid texture.
Vegan crepe cooking
Cooking the pancakes is a crucial step to succeed in this special Candlemas recipe.
Due to the absence of eggs in the vegan pancake batter, it is a bit more difficult to spread in the pan. Feel free to add water gradually until you achieve the right texture.
1- Heat a large pan or crepe maker on high heat. It should be very hot when you pour in the batter.
2- Grease the crepe maker with a paper towel soaked in vegetable oil.
3- Pour a small ladle of batter and spread it over the entire surface of the crepe maker.
Be careful not to add too much batter at once! You might end up with a pancake that's too thick.
4- Cook the pancake 2 to 3 minutes on one side before flipping it.
5- Flip the pancake using a wooden spatula and cook it about 1 minute on the other side.
Note: it is important to cook the vegetable pancakes thoroughly so they take on a nice golden color and their texture is not rubbery.
Tasting Tips
You can serve these vegan crepes with a savory filling made of vegetables, spices, and coconut milk, for example.
If you prefer to celebrate Candlemas by organizing a snack time, you can offer vegetarians delicious jams or homemade spread, or even a chocolate sauce made with plant-based milk.
